Maybe I just coughed: Hillary Clinton downplays expression of shock in Situation Room photo claiming it was 'Spring allergies'

Her eyes are widened in total and utter shock, her hand instinctively covering her open mouth in the way most people do when they witness a harrowing moment.

Yes Hillary Clinton, that is how most of us look when we cough.

The Secretary of State said today that it was not horror but actually her 'Spring allergies' that caused her stunned expression in the now-iconic White House situation room photo.

Iconic: As President Obama and Vice President Biden, along with members of the national security team, watch the raid on bin Laden's compound unfold, Clinton watches aghast with her her eyes widened in shock

It was a mere millisecond taken during 38 intense minutes when the top White House players watched the deadly raid on Osama bin Laden's hideout unfold - but it was a millisecond that painted a thousand words.

But Hillary Clinton has downplayed the whole hype surrounding her wide-eyed and open-mouthed expression.

No she is not frozen in fear, she insists, but she has 'no idea' what she was doing.

Allergies: Hillary Clinton insisted she was not frozen in fear but actually was suppressing one of her Spring allergies, though admitted it was one of the most intense 38 minutes of her life

Speaking today at a press conference in Rome, she said: 'I am somewhat sheepishly concerned that it was my preventing one of my
early Spring allergic coughs. So, it may have no great
meaning whatsoever.'

But for the almost two million people who viewed it on the White House's Flickr page - making it the website's most popular photo - its meaning was more than she could ever have imagined.

Clinton added that she could not remember what exactly they were watching on TV at that precise moment but admitted: 'Those were 38 of the most intense minutes. I have no idea what any of us were looking
at at that particular millisecond when the picture was taken.'

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The photograph has become an unusual talking point of the whole operation, with allegations in some quarters that it was staged.

U.S. officials have refused to discuss details of what exactly was happening
when it was taken, saying that could compromise intelligence efforts and
capabilities.

According to NBC, President Barack Obama was able to monitor the assault on the compound that housed Osama Bin Laden in real time Sunday night from the Situation Room.

He received 'audio and visual' updates from the scene as it was unfolding, said one U.S. official.

Denial: Hillary Clinton discussed the hype surrounding her expression in the now-iconic situation room photo during a press conference in Rome today where she met with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattin

When the team on the ground reported back that they had killed the organization's leader, at approximately 3:55pm ET on Sunday, applause broke out in the Situation Room, according to NBC.

In Rome today, where Hillary Clinton spoke during a press conference with Italian Foreign Minister Franco
Frattin, she said that bin Laden's death sent an 'unmistakable message about the strength and the resolve of the international community to stand against extremism and those who perpetuate it'.

She said: 'I think our resolve is even stronger after bin Laden's death because we know
it will have an impact on those who are on the battlefield in Afghanistan.'

She and other officials have expressed hope that al-Qaida sympathizers and
other militants may now be more inclined to give up violence and rejoin Afghan
society.